Yesterday, I read a book on power and influence written by a Zambian brother, Dr. Chiku Malunga. In the book, he had a Zambian proverb I really liked,

When the shadow of a tree is bent, straighten the tree and not the shadow.

My Twi translation: Sɛ dua no sunsuma akyea a, tene dua no ntene ne sunsuma.

His explanation,

“To get a true sense of meaning and purpose, one must work on identifying or detecting and cultivating their purpose. This is the source of true joy in life. When the shadow of a tree is bent, straighten the tree and not the shadow. To look for meaning and satisfaction elsewhere apart from one’s sense of purpose is like straightening the shadow and not the tree.”